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CWR Part of Relief Team in Tajikistan, Afghanistan
WARREN, MN (June 3, 2002) - Brotherly love takes many different forms. One fine
example is the special relationship between brothers Brian and Gary Schanil
that promises to help ministries in a pair of war-torn countries this
summer.
Covenant World Relief (CWR) and the Tajikistan-based Shelter Now
International (SNI) have combined forces this month to help construct a
health care facility and run a summer youth camp.
Brian Schanil, pastor of Evangelical Covenant Church in Warren, Minnesota,
contacted his brother Gary, a project coordinator for SNI's office in
Dushanbe. Schanil, who is a member of the executive board of the Northwest
Conference, also enlisted support from the conference and from the
Evangelical Covenant Church denominational to send a six-person team to
Tajikistan and Afghanistan from June 2 to 18.
CWR Director Jim Sundholm and his son, Luke, will join Schanil, Warren
church member Rachel Peterson, president of Covenant Women Ministries for
the Northwest Conference; Ginny Roesler, a past CWM president in the
Northwest Conference from New Richland, Minnesota; and Richard Epps-Dawson,
Covenant missionary in Halle, Germany, representing the Department of World
Mission.
According to Schanil, the CWR commission has approved funding to help
construct the health clinic in Tajikistan. The five-member team will
coordinate the mini-summer camp with an area Russian Baptist congregation,
receiving financial assistance from the Warren congregation. Travel to
various work sites in both countries for assessment of water projects and
other ministries are part of the itinerary, Schanil added.
"With a Christian relief organization like SNI on site with Covenant
connections, it provides us with an opportunity to become involved in
ministry to people who, prior to now, would have been difficult for us to
minister to," said Schanil. "SNI provides for us a resource for holistic
ministry to people who have suffered much."
Schanil hopes that the trip will be a first step to a long-term
relationship with some of the churches and organizations helping countries
like Tajikistan and Afghanistan. He realizes that the
temporary ground swell of help to Afghanistan after the events of September
11 won't solve anything systematically without a lengthy commitment.
"A short-term relief work is not what the people (in war-torn Middle East
nations) need," he said. "When Christian relief and development work enters
into an area, the publicity may not be high, but there is a sense that the
care, equipping and love of Christ is demonstrated for the long haul. These
are Islamic nations that have great needs, both physical and spiritual. We
can provide for their need only as long as we are willing to be with them
long-term."
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